I do not own the rights to Zorro. The rights belong to the Zorro creators. Thank you Alisha, and Emma, you have helped me out so much. This story is for entertainment only.

Kidnapping

Chapter 1

It was a very busy day in Pueblo De Los Angeles. Market day was always packed with merchants, and families. Victoria woke up early to buy the fresh fruits and vegetables she would need for her Tavern guests, and looked forward to seeing her best friend Don Diego De La Vega. He had just returned from a business trip his father sent him on. Diego took one more day to travel home so he would not have to ride during the hottest part of the day. Diego was only away for three days, but she realized that she missed his friendly face and company at lunch time.

Diego and Felipe came through the Tavern doors and leaned against the bar. When Victoria noticed them, she finished with the order she was putting together, and quickly delivered it and came over to see them.

"It is good to have you back Diego. What can I get you?" She smiled at them.

"Thank you and it is good to be home. We would like to have two glasses of the best lemonade in all of Los Angeles." Diego gave her a friendly smile and then added, "we would also like to invite you to dinner this evening."

"Of course I will join you for dinner, but what is the special occasion," She wondered and gave them a friendly smile.

"We have some news we would like to share with a few close friends." Both Diego and Felipe gave her a huge smile.

"Can you tell me part of the news you wish to share, now?" She slyly smiled, hoping to get something out of them.

Diego looked at Felipe and then at Victoria. "Alright, we can only tell you this much for now," Diego paused and Felipe nodded at the look his mentor gave him, "lets just say that this news will change the future of the De La Vega family." Diego clapped Felipe on the back and gave him a huge grin.

"Now you have me wondering what the great news could be, and your clue only made me more curious." Victoria smiled at them, but noticed a few new faces enter the Tavern. She did not have a good feeling about the two men who had just entered, and it must have shown on her face.

"Victoria, is something wrong?" Diego turned around and his eyes followed the two men she was watching.

"I will be right back Diego; I need to get something from the back room." She quickly hurried away leaving Diego and Felipe staring at her with worry.

"I wonder what they are up to." Diego quietly said so only Felipe could hear him. Felipe shrugged and signed quickly.

"You're right, they look like they are up to no good," Diego gave the lad a worried look.

Diego noticed Victoria carrying a crate of wine bottles and went to help her with the heavy load. He put the crate down and she started to put the bottles under the bar. It looked like something was bothering her, and Diego did not like to see her this way. A bottle slipped out of her hand as she was about to put it on the lower shelf. Diego caught the bottle before it hit the floor.

"What is wrong?" He asked her quietly.

She saw that he was worried, and knew that she had to tell someone. "Oh, Diego, I am sorry. Those men were watching me this morning while I was sweeping the front porch and putting the benches under the tables." A worried look crossed her face.

"Do you know who they are?" Diego asked her as he helped her put the rest of the bottles away.

"No I don't, but they watched me for a long time, and now they are here. They make me nervous, and the looks I saw on their faces this morning could only mean trouble." She allowed him to help her stand up. They went to the kitchen so they could talk in private.

"Do you want me to stay with you until they leave?" Diego asked her. His voice somehow made her confused, and she looked up at him.

"I will be fine, Mendoza is always around and he can help me if something happens." She gave him a small smile.

"Alright, I trust your judgment, but if you need me, I will be at the newspaper office working on the next edition." He gave her a careful smile and patted her lightly on the shoulder.

"Thank you Diego, I will remember that, but I am sure everything will be fine." Her look concerned him, but he had to trust her judgment.

Diego left the kitchen and leaned over to tell Felipe something quietly and they both looked at the two men that had Victoria feeling uncomfortable.

"Follow those two men and find out what they are up to Felipe. Victoria said they were watching her early this morning, and I want to know why and who they are." Diego said, close enough to Felipe's earso he could hear him clearly without giving away the secret.

Victoria was now helping a customer with an order. "I will come pick you up later this evening for dinner." Diego leaned in close to her, reassuring her before he left the tavern. She smiled and nodded, letting him know she heard him.

His eyes went to the two men now sitting at a table near the back of the room.

Two hours later, Felipe came running into the newspaper office. Felipe began to sign quickly. One of the men he was following said something that worried him. Both men went into the alcalde's office.

"Slow down so I can understand you please." Diego held up his hands in front of him and tried to calm Felipe down.

"They meet with the alcalde and there is something planned for tonight. You did not hear what this plan might be by chance did you?" Diego asked after he followed Felipe's slow signing. Felipe shook his head no in response to his mentor's question.

"Whatever is planned for tonight does not sound good at all." Diego said to himself quietly. "Thank you Felipe, you have been a big help today." Diego patted him on the back and gave him a small but worried smile.

Felipe made a Z in the air, and gave a questioning look.

"Yes, I think Zorro will be needed tonight. Please ride back home and bring the wagon back here. I want to make sure Victoria is safely away from here before this plan starts." Diego gave Felipe one last look of thanks and sent him off toward home.

Diego went back to his work, but could not concentrate for very long. His thoughts kept drifting back to what the alcalde's plan might be.

Diego gave up on his newspaper work and went over to the Tavern to check on Victoria.